How to Start Your Wedding Planning Journey in the New Year: Stationery Edition
Congratulations on your engagement! This marks the beginning of a beautiful wedding planning journey towards one of the most memorable days of your life. As you start planning your wedding, it’s important (and exciting!) to consider one of the key elements that will set the stage for your big day: the wedding stationery! As an expert in custom wedding invitations and stationery, I’m excited to help you navigate the early stages of wedding planning, and share everything you need to know to have wedding stationery that elegantly reflects your unique love story.
Before we get started, welcome to Kindly Delivered! I’m a wedding and stationery designer, based in the sunny state of Ohio. Whether you’re nearby or far away, my mission is to transform your stationery dreams into stunning realities. With a passion for capturing each couple’s unique style, I offer personalized, hands-on service from start to finish. Interested in crafting something beautiful together? Find out how we can collaborate here, or click here to begin your journey with me!
1. Understanding the Wedding Stationery Timeline
The journey to “I do” is filled with important milestones, and your stationery plays an important role in sharing those milestones with your family and friends. The first piece of stationery you’ll send out is your engagement party invitations. This is where you share your exciting news and set the tone for all the celebrations to come. Aim to send these out shortly after your engagement, capturing the freshness and excitement of your announcement. I have more advice about that here!
From there, the timeline unfolds with save-the-date cards, which you’ll want to send out about 6-12 months before your wedding. Followed by the official invitations 8-12 weeks prior to the big day. Don’t forget to factor in time for design consultations, revisions, and printing. By starting early, you ensure every piece reflects your vision perfectly! I’m already working with couples who are planning late 2024 weddings so that we have plenty of time. If you are looking for a more comprehensive break down on this topic, I go into much more detail here.
Now, let’s talk about what to expect as you start your wedding planning journey in terms of your wedding stationery.
2. The First Impression: Choosing Your Save-the-Date Cards
Your save-the-date is more than a date reminder; it’s a sneak peek into your wedding. This is your first opportunity to express your theme, color scheme, and overall vibe of your celebration. Whether you opt for a classic design or something more avant-garde, make sure it resonates with your story. Even if you don’t feel like you want something too formal for your save-the-dates, it’s usually worth waiting to talk to your wedding invitation designer so their can be some cohesion between them!
3. Designing Your Dream Wedding Invitation
The wedding invitation is not just a card; it’s a keepsake, an heirloom, and a declaration of your love. It’s one of the only tangible things you’ll save after your wedding day. This is where your wedding planning journey gets truly exciting. From elegant typography to luxurious paper, every detail contributes to making your invitation uniquely yours. A skilled custom wedding invitation designer is your perfect partner in managing all these details, ensuring every aspect of your wedding stationery is handled with expertise and care! Use this opportunity to showcase your personality and give guests a glimpse of what to expect on your special day. Here are just a few examples of what you can do to customize your wedding invitations.
4. Navigating RSVPs and Guest Management
Whether you go with traditional paper RSVP’s or online RSVP’s, managing your guest list can be one of the more challenging aspects of your wedding planning journey. You can simplify this process with an invitation designer who offers RSVP management (this is something I always offer my couples!). Make sure your invitations clearly state how and when to RSVP. This will help you get a timely headcount, making it easier to manage your venue, catering, and seating arrangements.
5. Personalizing Your Wedding Day with Custom Stationery
Beyond invitations, your wedding day stationery (like ceremony programs, menu cards, place cards, etc) adds a personalized touch to your celebration. These pieces can tie in with your overall theme and color scheme, creating a cohesive and memorable experience for you and your guests.
We’ve thoroughly covered the wedding invitations and stationery part of your wedding planning journey, and if you still have questions, make sure to check out more articles here or reach out if you have more questions. Next, let’s talk about a few more things you’ll want to do early on in your wedding planning journey!
6. Setting Your Wedding Budget
Your wedding budget is the foundation of all your planning. Start by determining how much you want to spend and allocate funds to different aspects of your wedding. Remember, if you value personalized details and custom stationery, you may want to set aside a larger portion of your budget than the average online wedding calculator recommends. I know I’m biased but stationery can truly set the tone for the entire event!
7. Choosing Your Wedding Theme and Colors
Your theme and color palette are essential in reflecting your personal style. Whether it’s a beachside romance or a chic urban affair, your choice will guide decisions on venue, attire, and, of course, your stationery. For some peach inspiration (predicted to be one of the most popular hues in 2024), check out this recent Inspired by This feature.
8. Selecting the Perfect Venue
The venue sets the scene for your special day. Whether it’s a grand ballroom or a rustic barn, ensure it aligns with your vision, guest count, and budget. While I do work with couples across the country, if you happen to be local, here are a few of my favorite wedding venues in Cincinnati.
9. Crafting a Guest List
Your guest list shapes many elements of your wedding, from the size of the venue to the number of invitations. Start by listing everyone you wish to invite, then refine as needed to align with your venue and budget. Need a little help staying organized when creating your guest list? Download my free guest list tracker!
As you embark on this exciting wedding planning journey, remember that your wedding stationery is more than just paper – it’s the first chapter of your wedding story. Feel free to reach out for a personalized consultation to start crafting your unique wedding stationery. I’m here to ensure that every detail is handled with care, making your path to the altar as smooth and joyful as possible.
Ready to begin this beautiful adventure? Find all the details of our collaboration here, or click here to start crafting your dream wedding stationery right away! Let’s create something unforgettable together.
